It's true, these are probably the best apartments in Barstow, but that really isn't saying much. The apartment complex is generally clean and well maintained (especially for it's age), but it is surrounded by dusty, trash filled empty lots, and a bad neighborhood with many registered sex offenders. The apartments are among the noisiest I have ever lived in. I could clearly hear my upstairs neighbors talk and use the restroom. I could also hear a lot of noise (voices, laughter, kids crying) from the outside while in my bedroom. A fridge is not included with the rental price - when I was there, it cost $25 per month. I had very mixed results working with the management. Office hours were posted, but didn't seem to be observed very strictly. When I moved out, the management refused to adhere to the terms of the military clause signed by both parties, costing me two hundred dollars of my deposit. When trying (unsuccessfully) to resolve the issue, the manager claimed she no longer had my file and I was required to fax documentation at my own expense.

User Responses
From: Armywife95	Date: 08/22/2007
I was liking these apts. til I read the noise problem and the sex offender problem is a biggy . . I was thinking of looking that info up on my own anyway, but now I definatley will . . I'm not so sure on these now, but will be checking out the neighborhood on my own before deciding . . . you should file a report with the base about them not honoring the military clause, that is BS. Thanks for the heads up.
From: heather1970	Date: 08/26/2007
I already posted a review myself a while back, but it is true, we have a beautiful view of TRASH in the empty lot outside the brick wall. Manager honored our military clause, but was not a pleasant person if you told her something was wrong with the apartments. They were not that expensive either, infact they were really cheap for California standards. If you are on the housing list here at fort Irwin, they are ok until you get housing on post. I wouldn't stay here for any length of time though. And don't let your kids go to Lenwood school. My daughter came home crying every day. The kids there are rather "street smart" and I hate to say were a bit jealous of my blond hair blue eyed daugther. I saw just how awful those kids were, as where the parents at a school function one night. We took them out after 2 months and I drove them to school every day here at Irwin for 3 months until we got housing.
From: queennorahs	Date: 10/04/2007
Some how those two responses seem to be coming from the same person who wrote the review. The person leaving the military voluntarily does not meet the standards and requirements of us letting her break her lease. Our clause is strickly for if you get orders, get deployed, get base housing or get discharged for medical reasons. She broke her lease for a different reason and I got it rerented for her very quickly. It only cost her $200, not even a full months rent. I have had no complaints from any other residents and I have been there for 1.5 years. We do periodically clean any debris blown in around the outside of our security wall. That land is part of the desert. Our hours are posted, and are adhered to. Sometimes, I need to go to the bank, do inspections on the property, inspect readied apartments and inspect newly vacated units. We have a pager, which can be called 24 hours per day, if I am out of the office. Our community is gated and have never been bothered by any sex offenders. It is a GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AND I HAVE SO MANY HAPPY PEOPLE LIVING HERE. ------ -------, Resident Manager
From: utahveteran	Date: 10/05/2007
I am the original reviewer, not the responders (I don't have school age children, and my daughter is not blond). That is not the military clause I signed. If anyone would like to see my clause, let me know. Fort Irwin and the MCLB Barstow are aware of the problem.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/05/2007
This sounds like the renter is the problem not the apartments or the manager. I work for a military contractor and move to different projects and live outside of a base; apartments have military clauses but if you quit the military or anything voluntary like that the clause does not apply. I have lived in the apartments for 8 months and find it a very nice place to live and management/maintenance are very helpful and prompt. There are many military personnel here, families and people of all age groups. I was to leave a couple of months ago and gave notice but assignment was changed; manager offered to help me find an housing in Barstow until there was a vacancy here but there was a vacancy before my 30 day notice and I was able to stay in the Barstonian Apartments. The area outside of the gated apartments are the desert as you would see it anywhere else in this area. If there was a legitimate complaint about not honoring the military clause the renter would have contacted the base and it would have been resolved. Anyone looking for an apartment in Barstow should check out Barstonian Apartments themselves and decide not just go by reviews that are negative. I would recommend the apartments to anyone looking for housing in the area.
From: Haylo29	Date: 10/06/2007
I'm a former Army Captain who did get out for medical reasons. ------, the manager, would have honored my military clause if I had needed her to because I had orders (we talked about it, but I ended up not having to use it). I know the manager (I've lived there for a year at the Barstonian) and she is not shady at all. Additionally, she is always helpful when I have work orders. Furthermore, there are groundskeepers frequently at the Barstonian! There isn't any trash in the parking lots! The parking lots may get a little dusty from time to time, but that's because we live in the middle of the desert!
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/13/2008
The manager is extremely shady and argumentative to boot if you read the reviews with their responses. She has a reason for everything. Clearly she's been slumlording for years. She seems to have a great deal of experience.

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